Pekin seeks home win over English Valleys

The Pekin Panthers are 4-1 on the season and could very easily be an undefeated team, if it not for one play that got away.

The botched field goal turned touchdown at the climax of the Sigourney-Keota game stands as the only reason Pekin isn’t tied with BGM and Montezuma at the top of the district standings. The Panthers won’t get a chance to face those two district foes until later this season.

This week the Panthers face English Valleys, who is having a rough season so far at 1-5. Pekin head coach Joe Donovan sees similarities between this team and the team that beat them in September.

“English Valleys runs the single wing like Sigourney does,” Donovan said. “The good thing is we have seen it and prepared for it once already this year. They have one of the leading rushers in the district.”

That rusher is Brennen Grimm, who already has 750 yards and five touchdowns on the season. English Valleys quarterback Dillon Sanders can also be productive in the run game, so shutting down them will be essential.

To prepare for the game, Donovan is trying to keep his team level headed.

“To keep us focused I have pointed out the things that we need to do,” Donovan said. “Get better [with] penalties, third down conversions, and not giving up third down conversions.”

District Look

The top three teams in Class A District 6 won’t play each other until the last three weeks of the season. BGM, Montezuma and Pekin all have chances to win the district title and make noise in the playoffs. Pleasantville could easily wind up 5-4 after having to play those top three teams in its first three district games.